Neither Shimura Danzō, who had seized the right to speak, nor the disappointed Sarutobi Hiruzen noticed the faint, curved smiles at the corners of Mingye's and Fugaku Uchiha's mouths. That subtle, almost imperceptible smirk proved only one thing.
"The fish has taken the bait!"
"My lord truly foresaw everything. I never expected Shimura Danzō to actually use the interests of the Land of Rain to placate my anger—and as much as thirty percent at that. How should we proceed with the plan?"
In the Uchiha Clan head's study, a butterfly suddenly landed on Fugaku Uchiha's shoulder. As Fugaku read, he spoke to Mingye. The butterfly flapped its wings a few times, then spoke in a human voice. It was Mingye himself.
"It isn't foresight. The authority and interests controlled by Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō in Konoha could never be surrendered to the Uchiha Clan, not even a fraction. As the greatest source of profit, it could only be divided from the war. The Land of Rain's interests were already there for the taking. It could both interfere with and limit the Uchiha Clan's growing grasp over power in the village, while also perfectly drawing part of the Uchiha Clan's focus away from Konoha. Why wouldn't they do it? From now on, maintain good contact with Shimura Danzō. Let him feel an appropriate amount of your anger."
Fugaku Uchiha hesitated. The unease in his heart continued to grow. He closed the book and gripped it tightly. After weighing the matter again and again, he finally spoke.
"My lord, isn't it a little inappropriate for us to sow discord so openly? Ever since I took control of the Uchiha Clan, it seems everything you have asked me to do has been to make our clan more 'independent.' The consequences of